ARTSblog

This peice comes by way of Julia McBride’s “Coach Julia” e-newsletter. It is too good not to share.  Julia is one of the coaches in the Personal Evolution advanced workshop of our Annual Convention.

A North Carolina teacher named Julia Scatliff O’Grady has created the Leap Day Challenge, urging readers of her blog “to take a leap during the year of the leap.” A leap can be anything you choose to pay attention to in 2008 that will make you and the world stronger as a result. O’Grady has designated Friday, February 29 as the day on which all of us who accept the challenge will set aside some time to act on our leap and to celebrate. Read the rest of this entry »

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Today, one of Washington, DC’s most recognizable, oversized sculptures is being uprooted and moved across the river: The Awakening – one of the more iconic public art pieces in Washington, DC.

Last year, the owner of the sculpture sold it to the developers of National Harbor, a glitzy convention center complex slated to open in April farther south along the Potomac in Prince George’s. The sculpture will be reinstalled there Wednesday. According to the Park Service, it had been for sale the duration of its time at Hains Point.

The sculpture is 17 feet tall at its highest point — the fingers of the right arm — and 70 feet across. The five-piece creation is the largest work by Johnson, known for statues of people doing day-to-day activities. The Awakening has drawn thousands of visitors since it was installed in June 1980.

Read the full Washington Post article from Sunday, February 17.

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There’s been a lot of buzz lately about coaching and I thought I’d extend this invitation to anyone who is interested in finding out more about and actually experiencing peer coaching circles. You’ll have an opportunity to find out more at the 2008 Annual Convention in June.

Finding time to rejuvenate ourselves is a constant challenge when we commit our personal and professional lives to nurturing others. Are you asking yourself the difficult questions about your career? Trying to find a life-work balance? Put yourself in a solution-focused state of mind for the annual conference at this Advance Workshop.

Personal Evolution: Peer-Coaching Circles Thursday, June 19 1:30 to 5:00pm at the Americans for the Arts Annual Convention in Philadelphia. Space is limited to 50 people. Read the rest of this entry »

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Deadline for applications is 5:00 pm (CST) February 20. 

Americans for the Arts has received generous support from the Joyce Foundation to re-grant Professional Development Funds to emerging arts leaders of color from the Great Lakes region. Grant dollars will be used to partially offset the costs for 12 exceptional emerging arts leaders to attend Arts Advocacy Day in Washington, DC (March 31–April 1, 2008), the Annual Convention in Philadelphia (June 20–22, 2008), and the National Arts Marketing Project (NAMP) Conference in Houston (November 9–12, 2008). Read the rest of this entry »

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Leadership happens at all levels throughout our sector – none is more amazing and courageous than by those in the beginning stages of their career.  Having met hundreds of emerging leaders through Americans for the Arts, I am convinced the arts and cultural landscape will remain vibrant and relevant for years to come. Our future is bright. There is no leadership gap.

 We know there are unsung young leaders in our midst. The radical act of leadership is claiming it for yourself or making it happen for someone else. Brilliance abounds – let’s celebrate for all our benefit.

Nominations for the Emerging Leader Award, and all Awards of Americans for the Arts, close Friday, February 15.

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Even though Congress is still working on the final details, an economic stimulus check from the federal government is likely coming your way in a few months. So if you are not going to deposit your check into your savings account or pay off that nagging debt, why not skip that new designer handbag, iPhone, or flat-screen TV, and put some of the money towards a proven economic revitalizer—the arts?

The nonprofit arts and culture industry generates $166.2 billion in economic activity every year and supports 5.7 million full-time jobs. The arts provide the key to community revitalization and economic development while still being true to their fundamental purpose: to delight, to inspire, to challenge, to educate. Investing in the arts attracts and retains creative professionals, and helps foster a vibrant environment that is vital to community culture, entertainment and a thriving economy. Read the rest of this entry »

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Hello Field!

Americans for the Arts is working on a few big additions to its portfolio of arts education work. We’re beefing up our policy support for the field and sharpening our professional development. Gone are the days of seemingly disparate convention sessions. Check out these bits:

• NONPROFIT PROGRAM EVALUATION TRAINING
  One day prior to the Convention, you can join a preconference training on nonprofit arts education program evaluation! Program evaluations can garner resources and improve our programs. “Better Program Evaluation” demystifies evaluation and illuminates the methods of professionals. Attendees will leave with an understanding of design, execution, and implementation. Philadelphia, PA; June 19, 2008.
  www.AmericansForTheArts.org/ArtsEducation/Conference

• NATIONAL TEACHING ARTISTS’ CONVENING
  For the first time ever, Americans for the Arts will host the Teaching Artist Strand at the National Convention—a program for and by teaching artists, in partnership with the Dana Foundation. Topics include Managing a Faculty (contracts, health insurance, intellectual property…); Models of TA Professional Development; and What Makes a Good TA? Philadelphia, PA; June 20-22, 2008.
  www.AmericansForTheArts.org/ArtsEducation/Conference

• NATIONAL TRAINING ON SYSTEM CHANGE FOR ARTS EDUCATION
  Americans for the Arts annual arts education conference features research and coaching on systemic arts education change, including NCLB, new creative workforce research, RAND research on systemic provision of arts education, and Dick Deasy discussing arts education in his final weeks as director of the Arts Education Partnership. Philadelphia, PA; June 20-22, 2008.
  www.AmericansForTheArts.org/ArtsEducation/Conference

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On Monday, February 4th, President Bush released his FY 2009 budget request to Congress, which included several drastic cuts proposed for some key arts programs. For FY 2009, President Bush has proposed a $16.3 million cut for the National Endowment for the Arts–from $144.7 million to $128.4 million. For the eighth consecutive year, the President’s budget has eliminated funding for the Department of Education’s Arts in Education programs. Also, the FY 2009 budget request calls for a rescission of $200 million in already-approved funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

The President’s budget is the first step in the appropriations process. While it serves as an important framework, Congress has the power to set its own priorities and change the funding levels. Visit our E-Advocacy Center  to make your voice heard by writing your Member of Congress and urging them to increase funding for arts and culture and restore funding for the arts in education programs. While we have provided you with a customizable letter that you can send on, we recommend that you add your own thoughts and stories about why the arts are important to you and your community. You can also make a difference by joining us in Washington, DC for Arts Advocacy Day 2008, March 31-April 1, 2008, where you can meet with your Members of Congress face-to-face and urge them to support the arts!

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In a classic eposide of the 80′s sitcom Cheers, Diane tries her luck at betting on sports games. While Sam naturally uses athletic prowess when setting his wagers, Diane uses a different strategy—she makes her selections based upon the artistic strength of the team’s city. And she does really well. So, I’d like to apply this technique to Sunday’s Super Bowl XLII match up. Who is going to win this Boston/New York match up, arts-style? New York City might be the entertainment capital, but with Keith Lockard and Arthur Fielder in its dynasty, the Boston POPS benefits from both bold vision and deep traditions. Which city has the more innovative conductor? In terms of executive leadership, who would win a museum management challenge between the Director of the Musem of Fine Arts and The Metropolitan Museum of Art? If the first dancer of the Boston Ballet and the New York City ballet had a step-off, who would come out on top? And, how about going below the surface. Which city’s art scene is more “old school”? Which city provides better affordable housing for artists? Which city values public art more? Which city’s school system has the highest arts education scorecard? The prowess of a city extends farther than most people realize. So, who’s your pick and why?

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No matter what level you join at, all Americans for the Arts members receive discounts of 20-30% on some of the leading publications in the field. These journals are key resources for arts administrators, arts education professionals, public art managers, and artists.

• Arts Education Policy Review, published by Heldref Publications
  Arts Education Policy Review discusses difficult, often controversial, policy issues regarding K-12 education in the arts throughout the nation and the rest of the world. Focusing on education in music, visual arts, theater, dance, and creative writing, the journal encourages varied views and emphasizes analytical exploration. Multiple perspectives make Arts Education Policy Review a key resource for arts educators, administrators, policy analysts, advocacy groups, teachers, parents, audiences, and all those concerned with arts education.

• Journal of Arts Management, Law and Society, published by Heldref Publications
  The Journal of Arts Management, Law, and Society offers valuable insights into the role of the arts as well as strategies for supporting the arts in a cultural landscape dominated by the global economy and mass media. The journal tackles significant practical and theoretical issues in arts policy, management, marketing, support, intellectual property, law, governance, and cultural production and dissemination. Analysts, sociologists, arts administrators, educators, trustees, artists, lawyers, and concerned citizens will enjoy the articles, commentaries, and reviews of publications.

• Public Art Review, published by FORECAST Public Artworks
  Public Art Review is the only journal focused on exploring the many dimensions of public art. Each issue provides opinion, analysis, criticism and discussion about the nature and trends in public art. Published semi-annually since 1989, our readership includes artists, architects, curators, city planners, students, educators, design professionals, program administrators, community leaders, writers, and more.

Visit the Online Store today to subscribe.

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